SPYL pushes for housing to attract teachers
In light of the 2023 Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary (NSSCO) and Advanced Subsidiary Levels (NSSCAS) national exam results, the Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) has asked that the government make provision for teachers' housing in rural areas.
According to youth league secretary Ephraim Nekongo, housing for teachers in remote areas will attract education graduates to smaller schools.
"We call on the ministry of education to consider building teachers' houses in rural areas as a way of attracting teachers to those remote schools," he said.
"We have observed an influx of applicants when vacancies are released in town schools, while rural schools remain a last option for newly graduated teachers. Housing will be able to serve as an attraction for teachers to go into remote areas," he argued.
Below par
Nekongo called the overall national examination results "below par" and called on government to revisit the "quality of basic education in Namibia."
"The improved performance of 3.8% reflects a below-par performance with a 25.2% pass rate of grade 11 learners qualifying for AS Level, accounting for only about 10261 learners nationally," he noted.
"It is on that basis that we strongly reiterate our call for redoubled efforts to reinforce the quality of basic education in our country and to drastically improve the performance of all the learners from grade zero until university."
He further said the option to strengthen vocational training programmes should be strongly considered to provide learners with "alternative pathways to success."
"These programmes would offer practical skills training that aligns with learners' interests and strengths, preparing them for the workforce or further education."
Second chances
The youth league argues that learners with "special cases" need to be granted a second chance to avoid staggering unemployment rates as a result of failing a grade.
"We cannot afford to offload a high number of more than 30 000 learners into our streets. Institutions like the Namibia College of Open Learning (Namcol) must also be capacitated to absorb some of the learners who did not pass and give them another chance to improve their points."
Nekongo emphasised that "this must be a deliberate intervention by the line ministry to see to it that those learners are assisted in instilling hope in their academic journey."
Furthermore, the league urged the education minister to address accountability within the ministry and "effectively coordinate an effective teaching and learning process."
According to youth league secretary Ephraim Nekongo, housing for teachers in remote areas will attract education graduates to smaller schools.
"We call on the ministry of education to consider building teachers' houses in rural areas as a way of attracting teachers to those remote schools," he said.
"We have observed an influx of applicants when vacancies are released in town schools, while rural schools remain a last option for newly graduated teachers. Housing will be able to serve as an attraction for teachers to go into remote areas," he argued.
Below par
Nekongo called the overall national examination results "below par" and called on government to revisit the "quality of basic education in Namibia."
"The improved performance of 3.8% reflects a below-par performance with a 25.2% pass rate of grade 11 learners qualifying for AS Level, accounting for only about 10261 learners nationally," he noted.
"It is on that basis that we strongly reiterate our call for redoubled efforts to reinforce the quality of basic education in our country and to drastically improve the performance of all the learners from grade zero until university."
He further said the option to strengthen vocational training programmes should be strongly considered to provide learners with "alternative pathways to success."
"These programmes would offer practical skills training that aligns with learners' interests and strengths, preparing them for the workforce or further education."
Second chances
The youth league argues that learners with "special cases" need to be granted a second chance to avoid staggering unemployment rates as a result of failing a grade.
"We cannot afford to offload a high number of more than 30 000 learners into our streets. Institutions like the Namibia College of Open Learning (Namcol) must also be capacitated to absorb some of the learners who did not pass and give them another chance to improve their points."
Nekongo emphasised that "this must be a deliberate intervention by the line ministry to see to it that those learners are assisted in instilling hope in their academic journey."
Furthermore, the league urged the education minister to address accountability within the ministry and "effectively coordinate an effective teaching and learning process."
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article